Wolfpack forward Ashton Sims part of blue-chip rugby league family

Toronto Wolfpack forward Ashton Sims is shown during a training session in Toronto on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. Toronto Wolfpack forward Ashton Sims will be up early July 11, watching brother Tariq step onto one of rugby league's biggest stages. Tariq has been called up by the Queensland Maroons to play against the New South Wales Blues in Game 3 of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, Australia.Neil Davidson / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Toronto Wolfpack forward Ashton Sims will be up early July 11, watching younger brother Tariq step onto one of rugby league’s biggest stages.

Tariq has been called up by the New South Wales Blues to play the Queensland Maroons in Game 3 of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, Australia.

“Unbelievable. I’m so proud of him,” said Ashton, a man-mountain at six foot four and 245 pounds.

Tariq was summoned by New South Wales in 2012 only to break both bones in his left leg. it happened in an NRL game against Penrith, with both brothers playing for the North Queensland Cowboys.

The 28-year-old Tariq, now with the St. George Illawarra Dragons, had broken the same leg in the same place nine months earlier.

“They were talking the second time about (him) never playing again,” said Ashton. “I think it’s great story of perseverance. Any kid out there who gets told no or any person who gets told they can’t do something, well he’s just turned it around and he’s probably playing (in) the pinnacle game in our sport.”

State of Origin pits players from neighbouring states. Queensland covers Brisbane and the northeast corner of the country while New South Wales is the southeast corner encompassing Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

The rivalry is razor-sharp. Game 2 of the Origin series drew 82,223 to Sydney’s ANZ Stadium plus a worldwide audience including Canada. A crowd of 87,112 took in Game 1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

New South Wales won the first two games — 22-12 on June 6 and 18-14 on June 24 — to take the series, changing fortunes after a 12-year stretch that saw Queensland emerge victors 11 times.

The 33-year-old Ashton has a game of his own Saturday as the league-leading Wolfpack (17-1-1) host the ninth-place Sheffield Eagles (5-14-0) at Lamport Stadium. A win and Toronto will clinch the second-tier Betfred Championship title for its second league crown in as many years.

The transatlantic rugby league side, which won the third-tier League 1 in its inaugural 2017 season, has its eye set on a bigger prize. After the regular season, it will take part in the so-called Qualifiers which will determine promotion to the elite Super League.

The Sims are a rugby league family.

Father Peter is a dairy farmer in Gerringong, firmly in Blues country some 140 kilometres down the coast south of Sydney. But state allegiance depends on where your first senior game was so the family is split.

Brother Korbin, 26, who has been part of the extended Queensland training camp, just returned to the Brisbane Broncos lineup after a broken jaw.

Oldest sister Ruan, 36, has represented Australia in both rugby union and rugby league and was set to captain New South Wales in the women’s inaugural State of Origin game in June until she broke her hand. The Blues beat the Queensland Maroons 16-10 at North Sydney Oval.

Younger sister Canecia (C.J.), 30, represented Australia at the 2017 IFAF Women’s World Championship of American Football and, like Ruan, has earned a contract in the women’s NRL.

Thanks to mother Jacqueline’s heritage, Ashton, Korbin and Tariq have all represented Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup.

The Sims parents will be at Wednesday’s Origin game. Ashton is disappointed he will miss it but will watch his brother on TV.

“I talked to him (this week). He’s having a great time in camp and learning a lot. He’s in great form this year so I don’t think the occasion will get to him.”

Ashton, who also played for St. George Illawarra and Brisbane in the NRL and Warrington in England, was back training with the Wolfpack this week after a calf injury.

While a country boy at heart, Ashton says he has fallen in love with Toronto after exploring the city on his bike.

“You guys don’t realize how lucky you’ve got it here,” he said. “I mean I haven’t seen it in the winter. I hear winter’s pretty harsh. But it’s just such a great city. It’s easy to get around … And the people are great.

“And that’s a pretty big compliment coming from a guy like myself who doesn’t really like cities. I don’t really like hustle and bustle but this (city) definitely holds a nice spot in my heart.”

His wife and four kids — aged two, five, eight and nine — just returned to the family home in England after a visit. They are set to return for the playoffs.

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